The U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced on Tuesday a new global security force to help protect and defend vessels transiting the Red Sea, amid growing concerns about the stability of supply chains and oil prices, as major shipping companies avoid the main trade route following a series of attacks on commercial ships by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Key Information
The U.S.-led coalition will gather naval forces from 10 different countries to combat Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Bahrain.
Austin described the Red Sea as a “vital waterway” and a key artery for international trade, adding that the “recent escalation” in attacks from Houthi rebels threatens commerce, endangers sailors’ lives, and violates international law.
He noted that the issue is a “global challenge that requires collective action” and urged nations to “cooperate” and defend the principle of freedom of navigation.
U.S. ships will join British, Bahraini, Canadian, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Seychellois, and Spanish vessels as part of the initiative, which Austin dubbed “Operation Prosperity Guardian.”
The operation will be under the command of Task Force 153, part of the multinational Combined Maritime Forces already operating in the region, Austin stated.
Background Information
Major shipping companies like A.P. Moller-Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC began avoiding the Red Sea area following a series of attacks on commercial vessels in recent weeks. The attacks involve ballistic missiles and drones by Houthi rebels in Yemen targeting ships linked to Israel. This faction, supported by Iran, has controlled Yemen since seizing power in 2014 and continues to fight for dominance in a brutal civil war. Houthi fighters are allied with Hamas, the group Israel has pledged to eradicate in Gaza. Some attacks have caused sufficient damage to vessels, and Austin stated on Tuesday that Houthi rebels have attacked or seized commercial ships 12 times in the past four weeks and are still holding 25 crew members hostage aboard a vessel linked to Israel, according to Agence France-Presse.
Continued Reading
Houthi attack on Norwegian oil tanker in the Red Sea – what to know about the rebels linked to Hamas in Yemen (Forbes)
Estimated increase of about 3% in oil prices after BP and other companies halted shipments through the Red Sea (Forbes)
Masking shipping sites, assessing options amid Red Sea attacks (Reuters)
Hijacking of a cargo ship in the Red Sea: how to keep commercial vessels safe from attacks (BBC)
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Send me a secure tip. Robert Hart
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